Protests by Palestine supporters at the Vuelta have grown so large that the country's leading politicians are being asked for comments. For example, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said he supports the removal of Israel-Premier Tech from the Vuelta.
"I understand that and would certainly be in favor of it," Albares said when asked if he thought the team should be removed from the competition, adding that only the sport's governing body, the UCI, can make the decision. "You know that this is not a decision for the Spanish government, it is made by the International Cycling Union. Therefore, the Spanish government has no say in the participation."
Albares also referred to Russia's removal from sports competitions after the invasion of Ukraine, citing it as an example in handling the current situation. In March 2022, the UCI suspended all Russian and Belarusian teams.
"We cannot continue to maintain normal relations with Israel as if nothing were happening," Albares said. "We must send a message to Israel, to Israeli society. They must understand that Europe and Israel can only interact – as stipulated in Article 2 of the Association Agreement – if human rights are respected, because our relations as democratic countries are based and function precisely in this way."
Spain is one of the European Union countries that has officially recognized Palestine as a state, doing so in May 2024. The Vuelta concludes on September 14 in Madrid.
